Battle of Wuling

The Battle of Wuling was fought in 208 AD when Liu Bei's general Zhang Fei seized the city of Wuling from the Jing Province warlord Jin Xuan as part of Zhuge Liang's plan to conquer Jingzhou from Cao Cao. Jin Xuan was defeated in battle with Zhang Fei and betrayed and killed by his own adjutant, Gong Zhi, whom Liu Bei appointed the new Prefect of Wuling.

Background
In 208 AD, following his victories at the Battle of Chibi and the Battle of Nanjun, Liu Bei was advised by his strategist Ma Liang to also conquer the cities of Lingling, Guiyang, Wuling, and Changsha from the regional governors, who were loyal to Cao Cao. Zhao Yun succeeded in seizing Guiyang and Wuling, and a jealous Zhang Fei volunteered to lead 3,000 troops to capture Wuling, swearing to be executed if he should fail.

Battle
Lord Jin Xuan's secretary Gong Zhi advised him to surrender to Liu Bei due to his relationship to Emperor Xian of Han, but Jin Xuan angrily decided to put Gong Zhi to death. Gong Zhi was spared after Jin Xuan's other officers warned him that killing Gong Zhi would demoralize his troops, so Jin Xuan himself led his army out of the city to meet Zhang Fei's force seven miles away. Zhang Fei shouted furiously and scared Jin Xuan, and much of his army was slain in the ensuing battle. Jin Xuan attempted to return to Lingling, but he found that Gong Zhi had turned the city against him, firing arrows at him. Gong Zhi himself fired an arrow at Jin Xuan's face before beheading him and presenting his head to Zhang Fei, and Liu Bei made Gong Zhi the new Prefect of Wuling.